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Equal rights in New York State
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applauds New York governor for signing non-discrimination bill into law
Press release from Equal Partners in Faith, dated
12-19-02 [12-21-02]
Thirty-one years after the first gay rights bill was
introduced, New York became the 13th state to ban discrimination based
on sexual orientation. Gov. George Pataki signed the bill into law just
hours after it was passed by Senate.
"Discrimination in any form must not be
tolerated," said EPF Director Dr. Sylvia Rhue. "This law will
insure that New York residents will be protected against discrimination
in employment, housing, education, credit and public
accommodations."
The Associated Press quotes Matt Foreman, executive
director of Empire State Pride, saying, "This lays the foundation
for winning full equality under the law in areas such as taxation,
protections for gay youth and transgender people and recognition of our
families."
New York State senators passed the Sexual Orientation
Non-Discrimination Act by a vote of 34-26. The state Assembly approved
the measure in January -- as it has annually since 1993. Thirteen of 36
Republicans and 21 of 24 Democrats voted for the bill.
"Mainstream religious organizations like the
American Jewish Congress and the New York State Council of Churches
contributed to the passage of this bill," said Rhue. "As
progressive people of faith, we celebrate this wonderful news. With
reports that Connecticut is expected to take up the subject of same-sex
marriage next year the momentum for full inclusion is definitely on our
side."
EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national
network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality
and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values
lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of
religion, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to
promote inequality and exclusion.
Equal Partners in Faith
5 Thomas Circle
Washington DC
20005
1-877-501-4194
1-202-797-0111 (fax)
website: www.us.net/epf
email: epfinfo@aol.com
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
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Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
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Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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